Systems, methods, and apparatus for dispensing sheets of material

ABSTRACT

A sheet dispensing apparatus to dispense sheets from a sheet material card having a plurality of sheets. The sheet dispensing apparatus includes a door, a door plate, a back plate, and a motor including a motor shaft, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the door plate, and a motor wheel is operatively connected to the motor shaft. The motor wheel is driven by the motor shaft to detach a sheet from the sheet material card. The apparatus further includes a first light pipe having a first end and a second end, wherein a signal transmitted at the first end of the first light pipe is received at the second end if the correct sheet material card is being used. A second light pipe receives a signal at the first end and receives the signal at the second end, if the sheet material card is not present or out of sheets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/159,969, having the title SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSFOR DISPENSING SHEETS OF MATERIAL, filed Oct. 15, 2018, which is in turna continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/313,495, having the title SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FORDISPENSING SHEETS OF MATERIAL, filed Nov. 22, 2016, issued as U.S. Pat.No. 10,149,583, and which claims priority to European Patent ApplicationNo. 15001414.0, filed on May 12, 2015, issued as EP3092926B1, all ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a machine that dispenses a product, andmore particularly to a sheet dispensing machine that dispenses a sheetof material from a stack of materials.

BACKGROUND

Reliably dispensing sheets of material, including for example paperproducts from a stack of joined paper products, is often difficult. Forexample, the stack of material sheets may be joined at one end in amanner such that the application of an appropriate force upon a singlesheet will cause it to separate from the remainder of material sheets.In many dispensers of such materials, a mechanical arm may contact theoutermost sheet in the stack and tear it away from the remainder of thestack. However, the mechanical arm often contacts the sheet material ina very small area relative to the area of the sheet material itself. Asa result, where the material sheets do not have great tensile strength,the sheets are prone to tearing during dispensing. Additionally, themechanical arm may not disengage the outermost sheet after the outermostsheet is torn away from the remainder of the stack, causing difficultyin the ultimate removal of the sheet material from the dispenser. Onesuch example of the dispensing of material sheets is in the use of thinmaterial sheets used to provide a sanitary barrier between a user of adevice and the device, including for example, toilet seat covers.

What is needed is a more reliable system, method, and apparatus fordispensing sheets of material. The present application appreciates thatproviding such a system, method, and apparatus may be a challengingendeavor.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, there is provided a sheet dispensing apparatusconfigured to dispense a sheet from a sheet material card having aplurality of sheets wherein the sheet material card is supported in theapparatus. The sheet dispensing apparatus includes a door plate, a backplate, and a motor plate resiliently coupled to the door plate andresiliently biased towards the back plate. A motor including a motorshaft, is operatively connected to the motor plate. A motor wheel isoperatively connected to the motor shaft and includes a first radiusdefined between the motor shaft and a radiused surface of the motorwheel, and a second radius defined between the shaft and a truncatedportion of the motor wheel. A roller includes a roller surface and theroller is operatively connected to the motor shaft, wherein the distancebetween the roller surface and the motor shaft is less than the firstradius and greater than the second radius.

In another embodiment, there is provided a sheet dispensing apparatusconfigured to dispense sheets from a sheet material card having aplurality of sheets, wherein the sheet material card is supported in theapparatus. The sheet dispensing apparatus includes a door plate, a backplate, and a motor including a motor shaft wherein the motor isoperatively connected to the door plate. A motor wheel is operativelyconnected to the motor shaft and the motor wheel is driven by the motorshaft to detach a sheet from the sheet material card. The apparatusfurther includes a first light pipe having a first end and a second end.A first transmitter transmits a first signal toward the first end of thefirst light pipe, wherein the first transmitter spaced from the firstend of the first light pipe. A first receiver to receive the transmittedfirst signal from the second end of the first light pipe, the firstreceiver being spaced from the second end of the first light pipe.

In a further embodiment, there is provides a method of dispensing asheet from a sheet material card having a plurality of sheets supportedin a sheet dispensing apparatus having a motor wheel to detach a sheetfrom the sheet material card for dispensing to a user. The methodincludes: transmitting a first signal to a first end of a first lightpipe; receiving the first signal from a second end of the first lightpipe; and enabling, upon receiving the first signal, detaching a sheetfrom the sheet material card with the motor wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate various example apparatuses,systems, and methods, and are used merely to illustrate various exampleembodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus in anopen condition including a sheet material card.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one side of a door platelocated in a cavity of a door.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of another side of a door plate.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus in anopen condition lacking a sheet material card.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a back of a dispensingapparatus.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a dispenser apparatus.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate side views of a sheet dispensingmechanism adjacently located to a sheet material card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Sheet material dispensers, such as that disclosed in European PatentApplication Publication No. EP2522265 (A1), may utilize feed rollers inorder to advance a sheet material from a sheet material storage device,such as a card of sheet products. The sheet material may be attached ina stack to the card (which may include a substrate configured to beattached to the interior of the dispenser) via a perforated, orotherwise limited, connection, such that the application of a forcepulling the sheet material away from the card may cause it to separateat predesignated points. A single layer of sheet material may beaccordingly advanced out of the dispenser so as to permit manipulationof the sheet material by a user, including allowing a user to grasp thesheet material and remove it completely from the dispenser. EuropeanPatent Application Publication No. EP2522265 (A1) is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

In one embodiment, the various dispensing apparatuses disclosed hereinmay be used for a specific purpose, including for example, thedispensing of thin paper toilet seat covers. The toilet seat covers maybe contained and/or dispensed in a substantially flat state. The toiletseat covers may be contained and/or dispensed in a substantially foldedstate, so as to reduce the necessary size of the dispensing apparatus.However, it is understood that the various dispensing apparatusesdisclosed herein may be used to dispense any of a variety of sheetmaterials from an internal storage area, including for example: a paper,a cardboard, a polymer, a metal, an alloy, an organic material, atextile, and the like. Further, it is understood that the variousdispensing apparatuses disclosed herein may be used to dispense anysheet material contained on a card of sheet products.

In one embodiment, the various dispensing apparatuses disclosed hereinmay be used to dispense a perforated towel. In one embodiment, thevarious dispensing apparatuses disclosed herein may be used to dispenseat least one of a flat fold towel, a soft fold towel, an inter-foldtowel, a continuous roll towel, and a perforated roll towel.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example arrangement of a dispensing apparatus 100.Apparatus 100 includes a door 102, a back plate 104, at least one sidewall 106, and a dispensing port 108. A pivot connection 110 rotatablyconnects the door 102 to the back plate 104. Apparatus 100, in differentembodiments, is formed from any of a variety of materials, including forexample: a polymer, a metal, an alloy, an organic material, and thelike. Apparatus 100 further includes any of a variety of shapesnecessary to store and dispense sheet materials.

Apparatus 100 includes at least one sensor window 112 located in frontof a sensor 232. See FIG. 4. The sensor 232 includes any of a variety ofsensors configured to activate apparatus 100 to cause at least onearticle of sheet material to be dispensed. Sensor 232 is operativelyconnected to at least one of a printed circuit board, a power source,and a power supply.

In one embodiment, sensor 232 is an infrared sensor configured to sensethe presence or movement of a user's body part, such as the user's hand,in the proximity of apparatus 100. The sensor 232 also senses thepresence of movement of an object. The sensor 232, when configured as aninfrared sensor, relays the sensing of the proximity or movement of auser's hand or an object to a printed circuit board (not shown), whichcauses an electric motor (not shown) to rotate a supply roller (notshown), which enables a single article of a sheet material to bedispensed from apparatus 100.

In another embodiment, sensor 232 is a capacitive sensor to sensemotion. Capacitive sensor 232 may sense motion of a user near apparatus100, such as a motion of a user's hand waved near apparatus 100, thusindicating that the user requests the dispensing of at least one articleof a sheet material from apparatus 100. In other embodiments, capacitivesensor 232 is oriented within apparatus 100, rather than on door 102.That is, no sensor is present on door 102, in one embodiment, but ratherthe sensor is contained within apparatus 100.

In other embodiments, described as follows, sensor 232 includes a lightsensor configured to sense lights activated near apparatus 100, suchthat the activation of lights near apparatus 100 causes apparatus 100 todispense an article of a sheet material. Alternatively, sensor 232includes a touch sensor, such that a user physically touches sensor 232when the user desires the dispensing of a sheet material from apparatus100. Furthermore, sensor 232 includes a microphone, and senses noisecaused by a user, to cause apparatus 100 to automatically dispense asheet material from apparatus 100 in anticipation of a user desiring anarticle of sheet material. In another alternative, sensor 232 includes amicrophone configured to permit voice recognition capabilities, suchthat a user may speak a specific word or term to cause the dispensing ofa sheet material from apparatus 100. In a further alternative, sensor232 includes a temperature sensor, such as the body heat of a userpresent near apparatus 100, and dispenses an article of sheet materialin anticipation of a user desiring an article of sheet material. Anadditional alternative of sensor 232 includes an RFID reader configuredto sense the presence of a tag in the possession of a user, such that anarticle of sheet material is only dispensed to specific users. Anadditional alternative of sensor 232 includes a shock sensor configuredto sense a user moving near apparatus 100, touching apparatus 100,tapping on apparatus 100 with an object or body part, or the like, afterwhich apparatus 100 may dispense an article of a sheet material.

Sensor 232 may be in communication with an external surface of apparatus100. Sensor 232 may be contained completely internally within apparatus100.

In one embodiment, apparatus 100 does not include a sensor 232, butrather includes a switch actuated by a user when requesting thedispensing an article of sheet material. The switch includes any of avariety of switches configured to close a circuit, including forexample, a button. In another embodiment, apparatus 100 includes bothsensor 232 and a switch.

In one embodiment, apparatus 100 may include, with or without sensor232, wireless networking capabilities, such that apparatus 100 may beremotely activated via a Bluetooth connection, a Wi-Fi connection, aradio signal, a cellular signal, or the like.

A key lock 114 is located at a top portion of the door 102 and isconfigured to receive a key for locking and unlocking the apparatus 100.By unlocking the key lock 114, the sheet material located within theapparatus can be refilled when there are no more sheets to dispense orwhen maintenance or repair is required. A catch 115 (see FIG. 2) movesbetween locked and unlocked positions to lock and unlock the apparatus100.

FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus 100 in an open position in which thedoor 102 has been rotated around the pivot connection 110 to about a 90degree angle with the back plate 104. In one or more embodiments, theback plate 104 is connected to a generally vertical support surface suchas a wall of a building, a wall of a room, a wall of a washroom stall,or a wall of washroom dividers. Other degrees of pivoting arecontemplated. In the open position, a door plate 116 is shown and fitswithin a cavity of the door 102. The door 102 and door plate 116 arefurther illustrated in FIG. 3.

The door plate 116 includes a battery compartment 118 to hold one ormore batteries (not shown) to provide power to operate a sheetdispensing mechanism 119 operatively connected to the door plate 116. Abattery illumination device 120 is configured provide a visualindication of the amount of power provide by the batteries. In oneembodiment, the battery illumination device 120 is a light emittingdiode (LED) and the apparatus 100 is powered by four 1.5 volt batterieslocated in compartment 118. A second cavity 121 is configurable toreceive additional batteries to extend the operating life of theapparatus before the batteries degrade sufficiently to prevent theapparatus 102 from dispensing. In one embodiment, the batteryillumination device 120 includes three different colors, each of whichsignifies a battery level of the battery. In one embodiment, when thebattery level is high the device 120 is green, when the battery level isat a midpoint the device 120 is yellow, and when the battery level islow the device 120 is red. Each of the battery levels corresponds to abattery voltage of a combined voltage of all batteries in thecompartment 118. In one embodiment, the LED includes three separate LEDsof different colors within a housing. Other types of illuminationdevices are contemplated. In one or more embodiments, the device 120 islocated at the aperture defined at element 120 or is located behind asseen in FIG. 4.

When the door 102 is in the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1,the dispensing mechanism 119 is substantially parallel with a sheetmaterial card 122, which is supported at the back plate 104 by a firstcard support standoff 124 and a second card support standoff 126. Thedispensing port 108 is defined between the bottom of the door plate 116and the bottom of the black plate 104.

The sheet material card 122 includes a rigid support 128 to which aplurality of sheets 130 are attached. Each of the sheets is stackedadjacently to one another such that a sheet 132 is exposed to thedispensing mechanism 119. In the closed position, a motor wheel 134 anda roller 136 are configured to engage the sheet 132 and to detach thesheet 132 from the rigid support 128. The sheet 132 is folded over andincludes a first portion 138 which is engaged by the motor wheel 134 andthe roller 136. A second portion 140 of the sheet 132 is folded over thefirst portion 138 and the overlying portions 138 and 140 are coupled tothe sheet material card 122 at the rigid support 128. One sheet at atime is detached from the rigid support 128 for dispensing to a user. Asseen in FIG. 2, the edge of the first portion 138 is relatively linearand provides a straight edge to enter the dispensing port 108. The edgeof the second portion 140 includes a curved edge to expose the firstportion 138 such that the first portion 138 is engaged by the motorwheel 134 and the roller 136 to detach the sheet 132.

The rigid support 128 includes a first slot 142 and a second slot 144,each of which is configured to receive respectively the standoff 124 andthe standoff 126. The slots 142 and 144 extend substantiallyhorizontally with a top edge 146 of the rigid support. Each of the slots142 and 144 include, in one embodiment, a locating feature 148 extendingfrom a channel 150 defined by the slots 142 and 144. Each of thelocating features 148 are configured to receive the standoffs 124 and126 such that the sheet material card 122 is held in position within theapparatus 100. In one embodiment, the locating features 148 are halfcircles. Other locating features are contemplated.

Each of the slots 142 and 144 further include signal apertures 152A and152B configured to transmit a signal through the sheet material card 122to a card light pipe 160. The card light pipe 160 is coupled to the backplate 104 and extends relatively horizontally with respect to the topedge 146. A signal, such as light signal, transmitted through one of thesignal apertures 152, enters one end of the card light pipe 160, istransmitted through the card light pipe 160, and exits another end ofthe card light pipe 160. Detection of the signal being transmittedthrough the light pipe 146 is used to determine the presence of thesheet material card 122 in the apparatus 100. In the illustratedembodiment, the light pipe 160 is made of rigid material such as acrylicor polycarbonate. Other non-rigid, flexible, light pipes are alsocontemplated including but not limited to polycarbonate fiber that isdesigned to be flexible, for instance to transmit light along a curvedpath.

The card light pipe 160 is configured to receive a light transmittedthrough a first card aperture 170 of the door plate 116 of FIG. 3. Thelight is transmitted through the first card aperture 170 by atransmitter 172 coupled to a side 174 of the door plate 116 of FIG. 4.The side 174 faces an interior portion of the door 102 when assembled tothe door 102 by one or more connectors extending through connectorstandoffs 176. Additional support standoffs 178 extend from the side 174of the door plate 116 to provide spaced support between the door plate116 and the door 102.

The light transmitted through the first aperture 170 enters signalaperture 152A which then is received by the card light pipe 160. (SeeFIG. 2) The signal transmitted through the card light pipe 160 exitsthrough the other end of the card light pipe 160, through aperture 152B,and through a second card aperture 180 of FIG. 3. The light transmittedthrough second card aperture 180 is received by a light receiver 182.See FIG. 4. The light receiver 182 is located over the second aperture180 to receive the transmitted light. When the sheet material card 122is in place, the transmission and receipt of the transmitted lightindicates that a complete and unobstructed path exists between thetransmitter 172 and the receiver 182. If the transmitted light does notreach the light receiver 182, lack of received light at receiver 182indicates that the rigid support 128 does not include appropriatelylocated signal apertures 152A and 152B. If either one or both of theapertures 152A or 152B is not properly located or is not present, thelack of received light indicates that the sheet material card 122 is nota correct or proper card, which may not properly dispense sheets 132. Itmay also indicate that the sheets that have been loaded do not have thenecessary quality to perform a proper or necessary barrier protection.

FIGS. 3 and 4 further illustrate the dispensing mechanism 119, the motorwheel 134, and the roller 136. The dispensing mechanism 119 includes amotor plate 190 including an aperture 192 through which the motor wheel134 extends during at least a portion of the dispensing of a sheet 132.A motor 194 is fixedly coupled to the motor plate 190 and includes ashaft 196 that extends from the motor 194, through the motor wheel 134and into or through the roller 136. Each of the motor wheel 134 and theroller 136 are fixedly coupled to the shaft 196 such that rotation ofthe shaft 196 rotates the motor wheel 134 and the shaft 136 at the sametime. In another embodiment, the shaft 196 extends to the motor wheel134 and a second shaft or connector (not shown) extends from the motorwheel 134 to the roller 136.

The motor plate 190 includes a curved upper portion 198 which isrotatably coupled to the door plate 116, with a hinge mechanism 199 (seeFIG. 8) for instance, such that a bottom portion 200 is free to moveaway from the door plate 116 as the door plate 116 pivots about theupper portion. The bottom portion 200 is curved (see FIG. 4) and isconfigured to generally follow the radiused surface of the motor wheel134. Other configurations are contemplated. The motor plate 190 furthersupports a motor switch 202, which in one embodiment is a microswitch.The motor switch 202 includes an arm (not shown) which opens and closesthe switch. A cam 204 extends from a side of the motor wheel 134 and isoff center from the shaft 196. See FIG. 4. The cam 204 engages theswitch arm once every single rotation of the motor wheel 134 totransition the motor switch 202 from a closed position and an openposition.

As further seen in FIG. 3, the door plate 116 includes a first sheetaperture 210 and a second sheet aperture 212. A sheet transmitter 214 inFIG. 4 transmits a light through the first sheet aperture 210 to a sheetlight pipe 216 operatively connected to the back plate 104 as seen inFIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the sheet material card 122 is missing andconsequently there are no sheets 132. When there are no sheets 132, thelight transmitted by the sheet transmitter 214 passes through the firstsheet aperture 210, enters an end of the sheet light pipe 216 to whichthe light is directed, and exits another end of the sheet light pipe216. The light transmitted through the sheet light pipe 216 enters thesecond sheet aperture 212 and is received by a sheet receiver 218. Acomplete transmission of light from the sheet transmitter 214 to thesheet receiver 218 indicates that: i) the apparatus 100 does not includethe sheet material card 122; or ii) that the sheet material card 122 isout of sheets 132. To determine the presence or absence of sheets 132,the sheet transmitter 214 and the sheet receiver 218 are located totransmit and receive light at a location below the rigid support 128.Consequently, when the sheet material card 122 no longer includessheets, the transmitted light passes below the sheet material card 122since the sheets 132 are no longer present to block transmission of thelight. Non-receipt of the light at the sheet receiver 218 indicates thepresence of a sheet or sheets 132, while receipt of the light indicatesthat absence of a sheet or sheets 132. If the sheet receiver 218receives light, an alert is generated to either: i) indicate that theapparatus is out of sheets of sheet material; or ii) the motor isdisable from driving the motor wheel to prevent the motor wheel fromrotating; or iii) both.

FIG. 5 additionally illustrates a lock receiver 220 to receive the catch115 to lock and unlock the apparatus 100. A lock switch magnet 222 isfixedly coupled to the back plate 104 which activates a lock switch 224.See FIG. 4. In one embodiment, the lock switch 224 is a reed switchwhich is activated by the lock switch magnet 222 to change the state ofthe reed switch for indicating that the door 102 is closed. In oneembodiment, when the door 102 is open, the reed switch 224 is open toindicate that the door 102 is open. When the door 102 is closed, thereed switch 224 is closed by the proximity of the lock switch magnet 222with the reed switch 224. Upon closing, the battery illumination device120 is turned off to conserver power.

The first light pipe 160 and the sheet light pipe 216 extend from aninner surface 226 of the back plate 104. In one embodiment, the backside of the back plate 104, as seen in FIG. 6, includes an outer surface228 having a first cavity 230 for first light pipe 160 and a secondcavity 231 for the sheet light pipe 216. During assembly, the lightpipes 160 and 216 are inserted into the respective cavities. The outersurface 228 further includes a plurality of connector features 233configured to receive connectors for connecting the back plate 104, andconsequently the apparatus 100, to a supporting structure.

Returning to FIG. 4, and as illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 7,the apparatus 100 includes control module 234 fixedly coupled to thedoor plate 116 and electrically coupled to the battery light 120, thecard transmitter 172, the card receiver 182, the motor 194, the switch196, the motor switch 202, the sheet transmitter 214, and the sheetreceiver 218. The control module 234 is also known as a mother board andincludes a printed circuit board (PCB) and one or more controllers suchas a microprocessor, including a processer 235, and a memory, andvarious connectors for connecting to the various parts as illustrated.In one or more embodiments, the memory is included in the processor 235and in other embodiments, the memory is an external device coupled tothe processor. The sensor 232 includes a receiver 236, a transmitter238, and an illumination device 239, such as an LED. In one embodiment,the sensor 232 transmits an infrared signal from the transmitter 238 andthrough the sensor window 112. When a person's hand or an object ismoved in front of the sensor 232, the transmitted light is reflected andis sensed by the receiver 236. At this point, the control module 234receives a signal from the receiver 236 indicating that a user isrequesting one of the sheets 130. The control module 234 transmits asignal to the motor 194 to activate the motor wheel 134 to start turningand continuing to turn a full revolution, about 360 degrees, i.e. onecomplete rotation of the motor wheel 134 until the cam 204 contacts thearm of the motor switch 202 which stops the motor wheel 134 from furtherrotation.

The processor 235 is configured to execute program instructions storedin the associated memory. The memory is configured to store the programinstructions and the processor 235 is configured to execute the storedprogram instructions in response to transmitted signals received fromuser sensor 232, other transmitted signals from the receivers, themotor, the switches, and to respond to received signals for providingstatus of the apparatus, as well as to indicate the presence or absenceof a proper sheet material card 122, and the absence or presence ofsheets 130. In addition, the control module 234 is operatively connectedto the motor 194, as described herein, to dispense a sheet of material.

The control module 234, in different embodiments, includes a computer,computer system, or other programmable devices. In other embodiments,the control module 234 includes one or more processors (e.g.microprocessors or programmable controller chips), and an associatedmemory, which can be internal to the processor of external to theprocessor. The memory can include random access memory (RAM) devicescomprising the memory storage of the processor 235, as well as any othertypes of memory, e.g., cache memories, non-volatile or backup memories,programmable memories, or flash memories, and read-only memories. Inaddition, the memory, in different embodiments, includes a memorystorage physically located elsewhere from the processing devices and anycache memory in a processing device, as well as any storage capacityused as a virtual memory, e.g., as stored on a mass storage device oranother computer coupled to the controller. The mass storage device caninclude a cache or other dataspace which can include databases. Memorystorage, in other embodiments, is located in the “cloud”, where thememory is located at a distant location which provides the storedinformation wirelessly to the control module 234. In one or moreembodiments, the memory storage tracks use of the apparatus 100 todetermine when the apparatus is out of sheets or when the apparatus isrefilled with a sheet card. In this way, use of the apparatus istracked. In this configuration, the apparatus includes a hardwired orwireless transmitter to transmit information of the external memory ofto a web based cloud.

FIG. 7 illustrates the block diagram of the dispenser apparatus 100described above with FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate side views of the sheet dispensingmechanism 119 for dispensing of a single sheet 130 from the sheetmaterial card 122 by application of the motor wheel 134 and the roller136 to the sheet 130. The motor plate 190 is operatively connected tothe door plate 116 with a shaft or pin (not shown) extending throughtabs 240, one of which is shown. A second tab, not shown, is located onan opposite side the motor plate 190. One or more resilient members 242are located between the motor plate 190 and a support portion of thedoor plate 116. In one embodiment, the resilient members are springs.Other types of resilient members are contemplated including a springthat surrounds the shaft extending through the tabs 240.

The resilient members 242 apply a pressure to the motor plate 190 toforce the motor plate toward the sheet 130 such that the roller 136 isin contact with the sheet 130 during detachment and dispensing of thesheet. The roller 136 includes a roller surface 244 defining acontinuous surface having a circumference centered about the shaft 196.The continuous surface defines a constant radius about the shaft 196.The motor wheel 134 is also moved toward the sheet 130 but does notcontact the sheet 130 before a user requests dispensing a sheet byactivating the sensor 232 or once a sheet has been completely dispensed.

In FIG. 8A, the motor wheel 134 includes a radiused surface 246 having afirst radius, defined between the motor shaft 196, and includes atruncated surface 248 which is substantially flat. See also FIG. 3. Inone embodiment, the truncated surface is a circle segment. Othertruncated surfaces are contemplated. The truncated surface 248 includesa second radius defined between the shaft 196 and the truncated surface248 of the motor wheel 134. The truncated surface 248 does not contactthe sheet 130 in FIG. 8A and is positioned at this location priordispensing a sheet 130. Once the motor 196 has been activated by thecontrol module 234, the motor 194 drives the motor shaft 196 to rotatethe motor wheel 134 and to move the radiused surface 246 to engage thesheet 130. Because the radiused surface 246 includes a radius largerthan the radius of the roller 136, the surface of the roller 136 ispushed away from the exposed sheet 130 when the radiused surface 246begins to contact the sheet 130. Contact between the sheet 130 and theradiused surface 246 detaches the sheet from the sheet material card122. The sheet 130 continues to be pulled in a downward direction, asillustrated, by the roller 136 once the radiused surface 246 of themotor wheel 134 no longer is in contact with the sheet. Continuedrotation of the motor wheel 134 continues to move the detached sheettoward the dispensing port 108. Once the cam 204 contacts switch 202,the motor 194 stops. After the truncated surface 248 returns to itsposition facing the sheets as seen in FIG. 8A, the roller 136 returns tocontact the next exposed sheet 130, as seen in FIG. 8A. In thisposition, the roller surface 244 continues to contact the sheet 130until the next sheet 130 is contacted by the truncated surface 248.

As sheets 130 continue to be dispensed, the stack of sheets 130 becomessmaller as illustrated in FIG. 8C. During this time, the resilientmembers 242 continue to force the motor wheel 134 and the roller 136toward the back wall 104.

When the apparatus 100 is out of paper as indicated by the sheetreceiver 218, the illumination device 238 flashes on and off. In oneembodiment, a red LED flashes on and off. When the truncated surface 248returns to the position of FIG. 8A, the switch 202 has changed itsposition, which is recognized by the processor 235. The processor 235transmits a signal to the processor 235 that the apparatus 100 is readyto dispense a sheet by illuminating a flashing green LED of theillumination device 238. Once the sensor 232 receives an indication thata user desires to dispense a sheet, the flashing green LED turns off toindicate that a sheet is ready to be pulled down by the user.

While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the presentdisclosure have been described hereinabove, the present disclosure isnot limited to the those embodiments. For instance, in otherembodiments, the apparatus and method of dispensing sanitation productsincludes dispensing of different types of substrates including flat,interfolded, and or roll form substrates for use in both the consumermarket and the away from home (AFH) market. The apparatus and dispensingof such substrates includes, but is not limited to: i) dispensing ofsheeted tissue products that act as a sanitation barrier for varioussurfaces in both the commercial market environments, including foodservice, and consumer market environments; ii) dispensing of sheetedtissue and or toweling products for personal cleaning; iii) dispensingof folded tissue, toweling and or wiping products for surfacesanitation, for drying and for cleaning, as well as personal sanitation,drying and cleaning; and iv) dispensing of roll tissue, toweling, andwiping products, both perforated and non-perforated, for surface andpersonal sanitation.

As described herein, the dispenser apparatus 100, including the sheetmaterial card 122 and the sheets 130, provides a unique system todispense sheeted tissue products in response to fiber optic activation.The sheet material card includes cutouts, the slots 142 and 144, whichare configured to locate the card at a predetermined location within theapparatus. By being able to repeatably locate the sheet material cardwithin the apparatus, the light transmitters and light receivers arealigned with the light pipes which enables the fiber optic activationfor dispensing sheet products.

As stated above, while the present application has been illustrated bythe description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments havebeen described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of theapplicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appendedclaims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications willreadily appear to those skilled in the art, having the benefit of thepresent application. Therefore, the application, in its broader aspects,is not limited to the specific details, illustrative examples shown, orany apparatus referred to. Departures may be made from such details,examples, and apparatuses without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe general inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sheet dispensing apparatus configured todispense a sheet from a sheet material card having a plurality ofsheets, the sheet material card supported in the apparatus, the sheetdispensing apparatus comprising: a door plate; a back plate; a motorplate resiliently coupled to the door plate and resiliently biasedtowards the back plate; a motor including a motor shaft, the motoroperatively connected to the motor plate; a motor wheel operativelyconnected to the motor shaft, the motor wheel including a first radiusdefined between the motor shaft and a radiused surface of the motorwheel, and a second radius defined between the shaft and a truncatedportion of the motor wheel; a roller including a roller surface, theroller operatively connected to the motor shaft, wherein the distancebetween the roller surface and the motor shaft is less than the firstradius and greater than the second radius.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein in a first position of the motor wheel, the roller surface iscloser to the back plate than the truncated portion is to the backplate, and in a second position the radiused surface of the motor wheelis closer to the back plate than the roller surface is to the backplate.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a first lightpipe having a first end and a second end; a first transmitter totransmit a first signal toward the first end of the first light pipe,the first transmitter spaced from the first end of the first light pipe;a first receiver to receive the transmitted first signal from the secondend of the first light pipe, the first receiver being spaced from thesecond end of the first light pipe.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 furthercomprising: a controller operatively connected to the motor, to thefirst transmitter, and to the first receiver, the controller including aprocessor and a memory configured to store program instructions and theprocessor is configured to execute the stored program instructions to:determine whether the first transmitted signal is received or notreceived by the first receiver; and if received, enable the motor todrive the motor wheel to detach one of the plurality of sheets.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a second light pipe having afirst end and a second end; a second transmitter to transmit a secondsignal toward the first end of the second light pipe, the secondtransmitter spaced from the first end of the second light pipe; a secondreceiver to receive the transmitted second signal from the second end ofthe second light pipe, the second receiver being spaced from the secondend of the second light pipe; wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to execute stored program instructions to: determine whetherthe second transmitted signal is received or not received by the secondreceiver; and if received, generate one or both of: i) an alert toindicate that the apparatus is out of sheets of sheet material; or ii)disable the motor from driving the motor wheel to prevent the motorwheel from detaching one of the plurality of sheets from the sheet motorcard.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: a switchactivating cam extending from a side of one of the motor wheel or theroller, the switch activating cam being operable to contact a switch tostop the motor from rotating.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 furthercomprising a motion sensor configured to transmit a motion signalindicative of receipt of an object motion, the motion sensor operativelyconnected to the processor, wherein the processor is further configuredto execute stored program instructions to: determine, receipt of themotion signal at the controller; and actuate the motor upon receipt ofthe motion signal if the first transmitted signal is received by thefirst receiver and if the second transmitted signal is not received bythe second receiver.
 8. A sheet dispensing apparatus configured todispense sheets from a sheet material card having a plurality of sheets,the sheet material card supported in the apparatus, the sheet dispensingapparatus comprising: a door plate; a back plate; a motor including amotor shaft, the motor operatively connected to the door plate; a motorwheel operatively connected to the motor shaft, the motor wheel drivenby the motor shaft to detach a sheet from the sheet material card; afirst light pipe having a first end and a second end; a firsttransmitter to transmit a first signal toward the first end of the firstlight pipe, the first transmitter spaced from the first end of the firstlight pipe; and a a first receiver to receive the transmitted firstsignal from the second end of the first light pipe, the first receiverbeing spaced from the second end of the first light pipe.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8 further comprising: a second light pipe having afirst end and a second end; a second transmitter to transmit a secondsignal toward the first end of the second light pipe, the secondtransmitter spaced from the first end of the second light pipe; a secondreceiver to receive the transmitted second signal from the second end ofthe second light pipe, the second receiver being spaced from the secondend of the second light pipe.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 furthercomprising: a controller operatively connected to the motor, to thefirst transmitter, and to the first receiver, the controller including aprocessor and a memory configured to store program instructions and theprocessor is configured to execute the stored program instructions to:determine whether the first transmitted signal is received or notreceived by the first receiver; and if received, enable the motor todrive the motor wheel to detach one of the plurality of sheets from thesheet material card.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processoris further configured to execute stored program instructions to:determine whether the second transmitted signal is received or notreceived by the second receiver; and if received, generate one or bothof: i) an alert to indicate that the apparatus is out of sheets of sheetmaterial; or ii) disable the motor from driving the motor wheel toprevent the motor wheel from detaching one of the plurality of sheetsfrom the sheet material card.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 furthercomprising a illumination device operatively connected to thecontroller, wherein the illumination device is illuminated in responseto the generated alert.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the motorwheel includes a first radius defined between the motor shaft and aradiused surface of the motor wheel, and a second radius defined betweenthe shaft and a truncated portion of the motor wheel; and a rollerincluding a roller surface, the roller operatively connected to themotor shaft, wherein the roller includes a roller radius defined betweenthe motor shaft and a roller surface of the roller, wherein the rollerradius is less than the first radius and greater than the second radius.14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a switch activatingcam extending from a side of one of the motor wheel or the roller, theswitch activating cam being operable to contact a switch to stop themotor.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: a motor plateresiliently coupled to the door plate and resiliently biased towards theback plate, wherein the resiliently biased motor plate directs the motortoward the back plate to engage the roller with one of the plurality ofsheets of the sheet material card.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 furthercomprising a motion sensor, to transmit a signal in response to anobject motion actuating the motion sensor, the motion sensor operativelyconnected the controller, wherein the processor is configured to executethe stored program instructions to: upon receipt, by the controller, ofthe signal from the motion sensor by the controller and if the firsttransmitted signal is received by the first receiver, drive the motorwheel to detach one of the plurality of sheets from the sheet materialcard.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor is configuredto execute the stored program instructions to: upon receipt of thesignal from the sensor by the controller and if the second transmittedsignal is received by the second receiver, disable the motor fromdriving the motor wheel to prevent the motor wheel from detaching one ofthe plurality of sheets from the sheet material card.
 18. A method ofdispensing a sheet from a sheet material card having a plurality ofsheets supported in a sheet dispensing apparatus having a motor wheel todetach a sheet from the sheet material card for dispensing, the methodcomprising: transmitting a first signal to a first end of a first lightpipe; receiving the first signal from a second end of the first lightpipe; and enabling, upon receiving the first signal, detaching a sheetfrom the sheet material card with the motor wheel.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 further comprising: transmitting a second signal to a first endof a second light pipe; not receiving the second signal from a secondend of the second light pipe; and enabling, upon not receiving thesecond signal, detaching a sheet from the sheet material card with themotor wheel.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising driving themotor wheel to detach a sheet from the sheet material card when both thestep of enabling, upon receiving the first signal, and the step ofenabling, upon receiving, the second signal, have occurred.